Less than half of 18-19-year-olds cast votes last weekend

The Okinawa Prefecture Election Board announced that 46.7 percent of the newly enfranchised 18 and 19-year-olds used their votes, which is clearly less than the participation rate of the rest of Okinawa voters that stood at 54.46%.

50.79% of 18-year-olds and 42.37%. of persons in their 19’s went to the polls. The weekend Upper House election was the first, in which 18 and 19-year-old persons were allowed to vote. Several organizations held various campaigns on the island to try to boost the youth participation, but the results were disappointing.

On the other hand, in the last three elections on Okinawa, the voting rate among persons in their 20s was between 29 to 38%, so it can be said that the younger people under 20 of age voted at much higher rate than their slightly older peers.

The Election Board figures do not represent the total Okinawa, but chosen representative areas on the main island and an analysis based on those results.